197 rescued as vessel’s engine malfunctions

BATANGAS, Philippines — All 197 passengers and crewmembers of a roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) vessel were rescued after the ship encountered engine trouble while sailing near Isla Verde in Batangas on Saturday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Batangas said the M/V Trans-Asia was headed for Caticlan in Aklan when the vessel’s engine malfunctioned at past 10 a.m.

After receiving a distress call, the PCG-Batangas dispatched the motor tugboat Fortis 10, which towed the vessel back to the port of Batangas.

The passengers and the rolling cargoes were transferred to another ro-ro vessel, M/V Starlite Venus, which departed the port of Batangas at around 8 p.m. for Caticlan.

Man jumps off ship

Meanwhile, a search and rescue operation is ongoing for a man who jumped off a ship that was sailing in the waters off Oriental Mindoro yesterday.

In a post on social media, the PCG said Usman Abela jumped from the motor vessel Blessed Sea Journey at past midnight.

The PCG has yet to determine if Abela is a deck cadet or a passenger of the Blessed Sea Journey.

The vessel, which was carrying 137 passengers and 32 crewmembers, was traveling from Manila to Coron in Palawan when the incident occurred near Pulong Munti Island in Baco town.

As of noon yesterday, the PCG had yet to find Abela.

Members of a rescue team urged officials of barangays surrounding the shores of Naujan to contact authorities in case they spot Abela.